- 10 Jul 15, 03:30#437685
ESPNF1:
The FIA will warn teams about the consequences of carrying out "fake" pit stops in Hungary after Mercedes' attempts to fool Williams during the British Grand Prix.
On lap 14 at Silverstone Mercedes mechanics ran out into the pit lane while Williams were first and second, only for neither of its cars to stop for tyres. After the race Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted "it was a bit of a game" - something which prompted an amusing text exchange with his wife, Williams test driver Susie.
Article 23.11 of the Sporting Regulations states: "Team personnel are only allowed in the pit lane immediately before they are required to work on a car and must withdraw as soon as the work is complete." However, no action was taken against Mercedes during or after the race.
FIA race director Charlie Whiting wants to ensure a precedent is not set and will lay down the law to teams in Hungary.
"Going into the pit lane like this, ie, for no valid reason, is not allowed but the difficulty would be proving it was a clear breach," he told the BBC. "I will talk to all the teams - at the next race in Hungary - about this and warn them that we will want to see and hear evidence that they were actually intending to stop."
Whiting says Mercedes was not called in to explain its actions because it was impossible to judge at the time whether the team intended to stop or not.
"At the time, what Mercedes did was OK as no-one knew that they were not actually going to stop. In fact we still don't really know. However, in view of the fact that they were alleged to have said that it was a 'dummy' stop, they may have put their foot in it rather."
A c'mon! What's wrong with a little gambling? Does everything in F1 have to be stifled, regulated, controlled?
The FIA will warn teams about the consequences of carrying out "fake" pit stops in Hungary after Mercedes' attempts to fool Williams during the British Grand Prix.
On lap 14 at Silverstone Mercedes mechanics ran out into the pit lane while Williams were first and second, only for neither of its cars to stop for tyres. After the race Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted "it was a bit of a game" - something which prompted an amusing text exchange with his wife, Williams test driver Susie.
Article 23.11 of the Sporting Regulations states: "Team personnel are only allowed in the pit lane immediately before they are required to work on a car and must withdraw as soon as the work is complete." However, no action was taken against Mercedes during or after the race.
FIA race director Charlie Whiting wants to ensure a precedent is not set and will lay down the law to teams in Hungary.
"Going into the pit lane like this, ie, for no valid reason, is not allowed but the difficulty would be proving it was a clear breach," he told the BBC. "I will talk to all the teams - at the next race in Hungary - about this and warn them that we will want to see and hear evidence that they were actually intending to stop."
Whiting says Mercedes was not called in to explain its actions because it was impossible to judge at the time whether the team intended to stop or not.
"At the time, what Mercedes did was OK as no-one knew that they were not actually going to stop. In fact we still don't really know. However, in view of the fact that they were alleged to have said that it was a 'dummy' stop, they may have put their foot in it rather."
A c'mon! What's wrong with a little gambling? Does everything in F1 have to be stifled, regulated, controlled?
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point.